- Unless you are specifically seeking a Catholic annulment, most states require annulments to be filed in family court. This is the same court that oversees such family law issues as failure to pay alimony or child support. In some cases, annulments may also be handled in divorce court. People often seek an annulment rather than a divorce because it is quicker and cheaper. You will need to fill out paperwork for the court, but you probably won't have any need for a lawyer.
- An annulment can only be granted for certain reasons. These conditions must present a flaw in the terms of the contractual agreement. You must be able to prove your contention that had these flaws been known, the marriage would not or could not have taken place. Whereas a divorce can be granted merely on the grounds of incompatibility, you must prove a reason for taking the extreme step of denying the marriage ever existed.
- Certain grounds exist that provide the basis for the bulk of annulments in the United States. Among these traditional grounds are that one or the other spouse was not yet of legal age when the marriage took place. You can also get an annulment on the shotgun wedding concept by proving that you were forced into the marriage. If you can prove that you were mentally unstable, under the influence of alcohol, or in some other way not legally capable of understanding the full implications of the action of getting married, you can provide a basis for an annulment. You can also get an annulment if you can prove that your spouse hid important information from you that would have affected your judgment. This information can be something like hiding a criminal record or even knowledge of having a sexually transmitted disease.